Front speakers only???

[Blackspotgg]

Hi all,

 

I'm a newbie to ICE, just installed my setup as follows:

 

1) Alpine 4x75w + 1x80W amp(think its MRF320...)

2) CDT CL-62

3) Pioneer active sub woofer TS-WX22A

4) Stock Kenwood HU (model is ???4070)

 

All items bought second hand and went to a installer over the weekend. The installer told me since I got a relatively good pair of entry-level component speakers, don't need to hook up the rear stock speakers, just the component speakers sufficient liao, else would be very noisy.

 

1) Would like to check if this type of setup is normal (as in only front component speakers, no rear speakers)? From the driver seat, feels quite ok. But when i sit on the back, sounds quite wierd....

 

2) Whenever I off my car/HU, there'll be a light 'pop' sound from the active sub-woofer. The 'pop' sound would also come on when I crank my engine. How to rectify this problem?

 

3) Now with the better speakers, the noise/distortion when I listen to radio also becomes clearer. Any cheap and effective method to improve the radio reception?

 

Appreciate if anyone able to advice on the above, many thanks in advance!!! :)

[Bearbear1494]

Yup, your front CDT components are decent enough. Running only the front speakers with the rears disabled does take a little getting used to as there isn't any rear-fill. However, this is pretty common, have quite a number of friends doing the same. Reason being that if the rear speakers are not of a similar quality and/or are not properly tuned, then they tend to muddy up the sound of the fronts. This is especially true of co-axial speakers (those with tweeters integrated into the midwoofer).

 

The popping sound you hear is most probably caused by the starting up of the amp. I'm guessing here, but if I'm not wrong the relay inside the built-in amp of the active sub is the one at fault here. The sound is heard when the relay is triggered by your HU's remote signal to power the sub on. Not sure if this can be fixed though.

 

The cheapest way to get better reception would be to install a powered windscreen antenna. These antennas are designed to stick onto the top of your windscreen, while drawing power from your HU to boost the signal. A Bosch one would cost around S$30, installation should cost around S$10.

Edited July 17, 2007 by Bearbear1494

[Theoldjaffa]

1) yup. having rear fill affects the imaging of the sound. this is car stereo, not dvd 5.1. you dun need "surround" sound in a car.

 

2) i've not used active subs before.. so i won't know how to comment..

 

3) i think its your HU. Kenwood mpx4070 is stock HU for many honda models 3-4 years ago.. so its a decent one but definitely not high end.

[Blackspotgg]

Bro bearbear,

 

Thanks for your advice! For the windscreen antenna that you're suggesting, does that means that the external (stock antenna on my Latio) would be disabled? I'm having V-kool for my ride, would internal antenna be affected by the V-kool? Any experience?

 

For the rear speakers, if I set my HU's FAD to forward (eg. F +5), would it be better than totally no rear speakers? Any comments? Thanks! :)

[Blackspotgg]

Thanks bro, like your analogy of dvd 5.1....

[Streetbumpkin]

Can share where to get the bosch antenna at $30?thanks

[Clarence07]

Hi bro

 

Just sharing my personal experience. Installed the bosh antanae 2 weeks back but I find that the radio reception is not much improved from my original lancer aerial. In fact, at certain places like MSCP, it could be worse. I think you could get it at any of the car audio installer.

[Bearbear1494]

Yup, the stock antenna would not be used, but will also not be affected in any way. It will still be there, the connector will still be intact (albeit just not used) since there's no cutting of wires involved. You can always revert back to using the stock one at any time. As for tinting, it shouldn't affect the reception by much.

 

Yes, you can adjust the fader to focus more on the front. Personally that's what I'm doing with my rear components to complement my sub. I'm running a budget setup thus without having a little rear-fill, the sub sounds a little out of place. Like having a home theatre system, sitting in the center but having the sub placed in another room.

[Bearbear1494]

Try Sim Lim Tower or Dickson Road (just opp SLT, got one car accessories shop in a shophouse).

[Pisces69]

Yup have to agree. I used those Bosch w/screen antenna & it is still not as good as the external telescopic type.

[Bearbear1494]

This is weird. Another friend of mine has the same feedback. He claims that the reception is about the same as stock, no real improvement after using the Bosch. Anyway the one he's using is the one that's installed in the corner of the windscreen, with a thin wire running all around. Not sure if that is a new model or what. The one I used to have on my old ride was the normal kind, just one little black box with a long green circuit board on both sides.

 

I'm currently using a non-branded one though. Bought it from Mustafa at only S$11, then DIY install. Reception is MUCH better than my stock antenna. But then again, Kelisa stock antenna really CMI. Any one interested can go try the Mustafa one, then feedback?

[Blackspotgg]

Another question: Previously on stock system when I set the volume to about 20, can feel that eardrum gonna break anytime. Now with amp and component speakers, set to 20 feels much softer than before. Can chat with wife when the volume is set at 12 now, previously can't even hear her when volume is at 10.

 

Is it due to the removal of the rear speakers? Or is it due to the setting of the gain on the amp? Any advantage in setting low gain on the amp? Tot higher gain better???

[Bearbear1494]

Read this, I think you'd find it useful.

 

http://kelisasg.proboards33.com/index.cgi?...read=1143766650

[Slidingturtle]

actually lower gain is ok, doing so alllows you to use more of the range of the HU. i personally find that when it is done this way, as you crank the vol up the sound reproduction is better, less harsh than when the gains of the amp up too much.

btw, my HU can crank to a max vol of 50, at above 40 is unbearable. i listen to my louder music at abt 35.

 

cheers,

[Kieran1975]

Hi all,

 

I'm a newbie to ICE, just installed my setup as follows:

 

1) Alpine 4x75w + 1x80W amp(think its MRF320...)

2) CDT CL-62

3) Pioneer active sub woofer TS-WX22A

4) Stock Kenwood HU (model is ???4070)

 

All items bought second hand and went to a installer over the weekend. The installer told me since I got a relatively good pair of entry-level component speakers, don't need to hook up the rear stock speakers, just the component speakers sufficient liao, else would be very noisy.

 

1) Would like to check if this type of setup is normal (as in only front component speakers, no rear speakers)? From the driver seat, feels quite ok. But when i sit on the back, sounds quite wierd....

 

2) Whenever I off my car/HU, there'll be a light 'pop' sound from the active sub-woofer. The 'pop' sound would also come on when I crank my engine. How to rectify this problem?

 

3) Now with the better speakers, the when I listen to radio also becomes clearer. Any cheap and effective method to improve the radio reception?

 

Appreciate if anyone able to advice on the above, many thanks in advance!!! :)

 

Hi bro,

 

Your setup is quite similar as mine.

 

HU: Clarion WXZ466MP ( 2 X Pre out)

Front : CDT CL62 component speaker

Rear: Lanzar 2way coxial (DISABLE)

AMP: Genesis Profile 2 (2 Channel Amp) for CDT CL62 (Front).

Sub: Pioneer TS-WX22A Active Subwoofer 150 watt

 

1)Yes, it is better to have only the front unless you have the same setup as your rear.

My rear coxial actually distort my front SQ and when i removed rear the sound was much clearer and better. But who care as most of the time i alone in the car, when the kids are around they will turn on the DVD player to watch cartoon...hehe....

 

2) I dun have the "pop" sound problem with my TS-WX22A Active Subwoofer. maybe you can ask you installer to check the sub remote connection.

 

3)My Clarion duh have radio reception problem.

 

Btw, are you running "passive" or "active"?

[Blackspotgg]

Kieran,

 

I'm on active sub-woofer but passive setup, the other way round with those who are very into ICE, haha... Stock HU cannot make it, only very basic and simple functions, so not much point going for active setup. Don't intend to spend much on ICE so won't be upgrading anymore, for the time being at least. BUT i'm very contented with my current setup. (1000 times better than stock setup which I've been listening to for 14 months...) :)

 

For me I feel that the active sub has the most bang for money.

[Blackspotgg]

What if your HU is of 'not-so-good' quality (ie. stock)?

[Bearbear1494]

Your Kenwood HU's signal to noise ratio, preout voltages & other specs shouldn't be too far off from most entry-level to mid-range HUs. If you really want, just spend around another S$300 to change to a new HU like Pioneer's DEH-6950IB or abit more for an Alpine HU.